Study at The Royal Agricultural University

Why study at Royal Agricultural University

You'll find its strengths in agriculture, agri-business, equine science, food production, and rural land and property management, with environment and cultural heritage subjects taught alongside them. Teaching is tied closely to working farms and to industry, and the university holds a Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (2023). Its motto, 'Arvorum Cultus Pecorumque', means 'Caring for the Fields and the Beasts'.

Location and student life

The campus is rural and sits on the edge of Cirencester, a town in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire. Close to campus the university runs working farms, including Coates Manor Farm and the Fossehill equestrian centre, which together cover around 491 hectares. The town centre is about a 20-minute walk away, with shops, cafes and places to eat.

Trains from London Paddington reach Kemble station, three miles from the university, via Swindon, and coaches connect Cirencester with Heathrow and other airports. Because the student body is small, the social calendar is busy and personal: Welcome Week, club activities and the Christmas and summer balls all feature.

Courses and subjects

Courses span agriculture, agri-business and farm management, equine science and management, food production and supply, and rural land management and real estate. Environment, cultural heritage, and business and entrepreneurship courses sit alongside them, and business teaching focuses on rural enterprise and agri-food business management.

You can study at foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate taught level, including MBAs, and postgraduate research degrees are offered too. A lot of teaching connects directly to the university's farms, laboratories and equestrian centre. That suits students who want hands-on, land-based study rather than the general mix of subjects you get at a city university.

Entry requirements for international students

Apply through UCAS for undergraduate degrees and directly for postgraduate courses. If you don't yet meet degree entry requirements, an International Foundation Year is available. Typical English requirements are IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5 for undergraduate courses, 6.5 with no band below 5.5 for taught postgraduate courses, and 6.5 with 6.0 in writing for postgraduate research. Equivalent tests are accepted. What you need varies by course and country, so check your course page and your country's entry guidance before you apply.

Accommodation

Halls on campus are catered or self-catered, with en-suite and shared-facility rooms. A half-board option gives you two meals a day in term time. The university aims to house all first-year undergraduates on campus but can't promise it: rooms go on a first come, first served basis, so apply through myRAU as early as you can. A £300 deposit is requested when you're offered a room. In later years students usually rent privately in Cirencester and nearby villages, with help from the accommodation office.

Scholarships and funding

International funding is listed on the university's scholarships page, and awards change each year, so check the current details before you apply. For 2026-27 the list includes the Vice-Chancellor's Global Impact Scholarship of up to £1,500 towards MSc tuition fees, the RAU Africa Agricultural Leadership Award of up to £4,500, the £500 International Referral Programme discount, and the Marshal Papworth Scholarship, which covers fees and expenses. RAU alumni get a 20% tuition discount on postgraduate degrees. You need to hold an offer before you can apply for a scholarship.